15

E.—7

C. KEPORT OF THE VICTORIA COLLEGE, 1908. (" The Victoria College Act, 1897.") [In continuation of E.-10, 1908.] Visitor. —The Hon. the Minister of Eduoation. Members of Council. Appointed by His Excellency the Governor in Council—A. W. Hogg, M.P.; J. Graham, M.P. ;W. H. Quick. Elected by members of the Legislature—C. P. KDight, LL.D.; C. Wilson ; Heinrich P. yon Haast, M.A., LL.B. Elected by members of Education Boards—A. T. Maginnity; the Hon. J. Q. Findlay, M.L.C., LL.D.; R. McCallum. Elected by graduates— J. G. W. Aitken ;A. R. Meek, M.A., LL.B.; Francis P. Wilson, M.A. Eleoted by public-school teaohers—T. R. Fleming, M.A., LL.B.; R«v. W. A. Evans; G. Watson, B.A. Eleoted by the Professorial Board—E. T. D. Bell. Staff. Professors. —Classios — Brown, M.A., St. Andrew's and Oxford. English Language and Literature — H. Mackenzie, M.A., St. Andrew's. Modern Languages— O W. yon Zedlitz, M.A..Oxford. Chemistry T. H. Easterfield, M.A. Cambridge, Ph.D. Wiirzburg. Mathematics and Mathematical Physics—D. K. Picken, M.A. Biology— H. B. Kirk, M.A. New Zealand. Law —M. W. Richmond, B.Sc. Lond., LL.B. New Zealand, and J. Adamson, M.A., LL.B., Edinburgh, Dean of the Faculty. Mental Soience—T. A. Hunter, M.A., M.Sc, New Zealand; Physics—T. H. Laby, 8.A., Cambridge. Lecturers. —Education—William Gray, M.A., B.Sc, New Zealand. Economics, History, and Geography— F. P. Wilson, M.A. Geology—C. A. Cotton, M.Sc, New Zealand. Demonstrator in Chemistry— J. C. McDowall. Demonstrator in Biology—Miss P. Myers, B.A. New Zealand. Assistant in Biology—E. Panting. Registrar.— C. P. Powles. The Registrar, Victoria College, to the Hon. the Minister op Education. Sir,— Victoria College, Registrar's Office, Wellington, 19th May, 1909. I have the honour, in pursuance of the Victoria College Act, to forward the following report from the Council on the work of the College during last year : — Classes have been held in the following subjects : English language and literature, education, Latin, Greek, French, German, mental science, jurisprudence and constitutional history, law, political economy, history, mathematics, mechanics, chemistry, physics, and biology. The number of students attending classes was 433, and there were 92 exempted students attached to the College ; 199 students kept terms. The Sir George Grey Scholarship was won by Mr. J. C. McDowall. At the recent degree examinations of the University of New Zealand, students of Victoria College passed as follows : — M.A. with honours .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 M.A. pass .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 L.L.M. with honours .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Senior Scholarships .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 B. Com. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 L.L.B. • 1 B.A. 12 Engineering, entrance examination .. .. .. .. .. 1 First section B.A. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35 Law examinations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 32 The number of students attending lectures this year is 458. The numbers have shown a steady increase each year since 1889, the first year of the work of the College, when 115 students attended lectnres. And to show what a large number of students the College has to provide for, the number of candidates for the various University examinations of 1908-9 may be quoted. The Victoria College district sent up 1,050 candidates, Otago University district coming next with 616. A special committee of the Council was appointed to draw up a report on the needs for additions to the teaching staff, and for additional accommodation for classes. This report was presented to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education by a deputation from the Council, which met with a most favourable reception. The Government gave an additional grant of £1,500 a year for general teaching purposes ; and the Council has therefore been able to appoint a Professor of Physics—Mr. T. H. Laby, B.A.—who will be in the Dominion to take up his work at the beginning of the second term; to relieve Professor Hunter from the teaching of economics, appointing Mr. F. P. Wilson, M.A., to be Lecturer in Economics, History, and Geography, with a view to the Commerce degree ; to appoint Mr. C. A. Cotton, M.Sc, as Lecturer in Geology, and also to give assistance to the Professors of English Language and Literature, Classics, Modern Languages, and Mathematics ; besides providing Professor Kirk with an assistant in the preparation of subjects for class-work and for the museum. The provision for teaching is therefore on a satisfactory footing ; but the increase in the number of students, and the necessity of dividing the larger classes in English, classics, and mathematics, the addition of the subject of geology and the separation of physics from chemistry, very much emphasizes the difficulties of carrying on the necessary classes with the insufficient accommodation available.